Help me light up my garage

[ikessky]

I have a 24x40 garage that I'm looking to improve the lighting in. The garage is insulated, heated, and the drywall will be painted white. So far, I've been making do with 6 single bulb fixtures. I do a lot of detailing, automotive work, and woodworking in my garage and I'm sick of using supplemental lighting for some of this stuff. Here is what I'm looking at: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia...te-Strip-Light-TC-2-32-120-1-4-GESB/100192753
My thought is to run 6 of these over my main working area for right now. Any thoughts?

Also, what light color would you suggest? I'm always a "bigger is better" kind of person, but I know that doesn't work in this department.

 

[ForceFed70]

OK, so 6 of those fixtures means 12 x 4' lamps.

It would certainly be a step up from what you have, but personally I think you could use more light. How about stepping up to a 4 lamp fixture? I have 9 x 4 lamp T8 fixtures in my 32x40 and I think it's the perfect amount of light.

Personally, I hate that fixture that you linked to. No cover and it just reeks of "cheap". For only a few $ more you can go to a fixture with a wrap around cover. Protects the lamps, keeps dust out, and looks a lot nicer.

 

[ikessky]

Maybe something such as this? http://www.menards.com/main/p-2259118-c-7242.htm

 

[baggedcobra]

I'm in the exact same position as you ikessky. Sounds like we both have the same current setup. I'm unsure which route I'm going to go.

 

[bwitt]

I went way overboard and got some Lithonia T5 HO fixtures. 54 watt bulbs and two bulbs per fixture. Super easy to hook up with the included quick connector. They are insane and eliminate any need for supplemental lighting unless you are directly under something. I am a lighting fiend and like it as bright as the sun. I paint in my shop so the more the better. They are really desinged for high-bay applications.

Around 9,000 lumens for each two-bulb fixture.

Just noticed you are in Wisconsin; the T5 ballasts are electronic and will start to -20 deg F. With a heated shop, that sholdn't be too much of a concern, though.

 

[pattenp]

I have a wood shop and a garage. The wood shop has a little over 8' ceiling and I used the wrap style fixtures. The wrap cover looks good but I do have to remove them to clean out dust and bugs a couple time a year. The ceiling in my garage is over 12' so I have the 96" fixtures as you first linked to, the ones Force said reeks of cheap, they work well because of having no cover to catch dust and block some of the light. I have six of the long fixtures in a 30 X 26 area. I think 8 of the 96" 4 lamp T8 fixtures would be good light for your 24 X 40.

 

[ForceFed70]

Maybe something such as this? http://www.menards.com/main/p-2259118-c-7242.htm

Much better! I use a very similar style fixture in my garage and am very happy with them. Lower profile too which is nice.

Just make sure that they are rated for surface mounting. That style fixture almost always is, but I don't see that specification listed on that website.

Oh, and just noticed that the original fixture you were looking at was indeed a 4 lamp fixture ( 2 x 2lamp fixtures). So I think your original plan was perfect other than the style of fixture.

 

[wingfootedgodhead]

I went way overboard and got some Lithonia T5 HO fixtures. 54 watt bulbs and two bulbs per fixture. Super easy to hook up with the included quick connector. They are insane and eliminate any need for supplemental lighting unless you are directly under something.

+1 on T5HO fixtures - the cat's meow